AUBURN HILLS — The Pistons schedule to start the season was not kind. Detroit played 18 games in 32 days to start the season, the most in the NBA.

The Pistons have led the NBA in games played nearly the entire season. Detroit played 16 games in both the month of November and December and the Pistons (13-23) are currently tied for the most games played in the NBA at 36.

The schedule slows down for Detroit over the next couple weeks. The Pistons play just four games over the next 15 days.

Monday was the start of four straight days off for Detroit, which plays at Milwaukee Friday.

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Like most coaches Pistons coach Lawrence Frank will enjoy the extra practice time. He hopes to sharpen up some things as well as add a few new things.

“We kind of have to assess where we’re at,” Frank said. “It’s a combination of you continue to grow (and add things). Sometimes as coaches we can screw it up a little bit in the sense you have all that time and you try to add too much stuff. I think you have to assess where you’re at and just (add) a little bit here and there.”

Many of Detroit’s players, including Rodney Stuckey, are battling through injuries so an extended break is welcome.

“Any time off is good time, just to relax, chill with the family, stuff like that so I’m ready for that,” Stuckey said. “We just gotta re-group, our next game is Friday at Milwaukee, a really tough team on the road. That’s one thing that we have to start doing, winning on the road. Hopefully we can steal that game and come back and get Utah.”

The time off can also be helpful to younger players like rookies Andre Drummond and Kyle Singler, who are playing in their first NBA season. Drummond said he didn’t need any time off, but agreed it can be helpful.

“I’d be ready to play tomorrow,” Drummond said after Sunday’s loss to Charlotte. “It’s what we do, what we love. We’re ready to play at any time. Yeah it’s great we have four days off until our next game so we have to use those days to get better as a team, and just take care of our bodies.”

The Pistons had a chance to enter the four-day break red hot, but had their four-game winning streak snapped in a overtime loss to Charlotte Sunday.

“We took a step back as far as getting stops defensively and controlling the game,” Brandon Knight said after the loss. “We have to just continue to improve, continue to keep the same habits. Look at the things we did wrong and try not to make it a habit.”

Other than the loss to Charlotte, Detroit has been playing well as of late. The Pistons are 6-2 in their last eight games so there could be an argument made the time off could be coming at a bad time.

“We have gotten into a bit of a rhythm,” Greg Monroe said. “I think right now we’re in a good place. I think a little bit of rest won’t hurt us at all. I think guys are focused and understand what we have to do. I think it’s good for us. I don’t think it will mess up any rhythm we have right now.”

“It don’t really matter,” Will Bynum said. “Practice time is critical as well. We still got a lot of stuff we need to clean up and get better at, defensively and offensively. We could use these practice days for the rest. A lot of guys are banged up. And just developing more chemistry.”

After playing at Milwaukee Friday and hosting Utah Saturday, the Pistons have another four-day break leading up to their game against New York in London on Jan. 17.

Dave Pemberton covers the Pistons. Email him at dave.pemberton@oakpress.com and follow him on Twitter @drpemberton.